Input device

ABSTRACT

An input device mounted in a vehicle, separated from a display unit and configured to input a finger operation to an operation surface to operate an image of the display unit is provided. The input device includes a detector that detects presence and absence of a finger in a groove, and controller that prohibits an input of a finger operation to an operation surface when a finger operation to the operation surface has not been performed for a predetermined time or longer and that cancels the prohibition of the input when determining the presence of sliding of the finger in the groove based on detection of the finger in the groove by the detector.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.2013-77849 filed on Apr. 3, 2013, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an input device for inputting anoperator's finger operation for an information display in a displayunit.

BACKGROUND ART

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a conventional input device.The input device (an operational user-interface device) disclosed byPatent Literature 1 includes a remote touchpad unit for a user toperform a touch operation, a display unit to display a multimedia systemof various modes according to three-dimensional signals received fromthe remote touchpad unit, and a controller to control the operation ofthe multimedia system according to the three-dimensional signals of theremote touchpad unit.

In the input device disclosed by Patent Literature 1, when the positionof a user's finger is located in a range of a first height from thesurface of the remote touchpad unit, the position of the finger(pointer) is displayed on the display unit to enable a detailedoperation through the movement of the pointer and the movement of amenu.

When the position of the user's finger is located in the range from thefirst height to a second height, switching between a first mode and asecond mode is enabled by a wipe pass gesture, and movement among ahome, a main, and a sub screen is also enabled.

When the position of the user's finger is located in the range from thesecond height to a third height, switching to an operation standbyscreen is enabled in a radio main screen.

PRIOR ART LITERATURES Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP-2011-118857 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to studies by the inventor of the present application,however, since the above-described screen operation is performeddepending on the distance (height) from the surface of the remotetouchpad to a finger, when a finger (hand) is brought close to theremote touchpad accidentally, there is a possibility that an unintendedinput (wrong operation) is performed to the display on the display unit.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present disclosure toprovide an input device which can prevent an input unintended by a user.

An input device according to an example of the present disclosure adoptsthe following configurations.

The input device is mounted in a vehicle, separated from a display unitthat switchably displays images hierarchized in a plurality of hierarchylevels, and configured to input a user's finger operation to anoperation surface to operate the images. The input device comprises agroove defined by a depressed area extending in a longitudinal directionof the groove to enable a user's fingertip inserted in the groove to beslid in the longitudinal direction, a detector that detects presence andabsence of the finger in the groove, and a controller that prohibits aninput of the finger operation to the operation surface when the fingeroperation to the operation surface has not been performed for apredetermined period of time or longer, and that cancels the prohibitionof the input when the detector detects the presence of the finger in thegroove and the controller determines presence of a sliding of the fingerin the groove.

According to the above input device, the controller prohibits the inputof the finger operation to the operation surface when the fingeroperation by the user to the operation surface has not been performedfor a predetermined period of time or longer. Accordingly, even if auser brings a finger close to the operation surface accidently, an inputfor operating an image is not performed. Therefore, it is possible toprevent an input unintended by the user.

When the controller determines presence of a sliding of the finger inthe groove based on the presence of the finger in the groove detected bythe detector, the controller cancels the prohibition of the input.Therefore, when making the sliding movement of the finger in the groove,the user is again allowed to perform the input with the finger operationto the operation surface. In this case, the finger operation intended bythe user will be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing illustrating an arrangement of anavigation device and a remote operation device in a compartmentaccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of thenavigation device and the remote operation device according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the remote operation deviceaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a section along a IV-IV line inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a touch sensor and first andsecond sensors.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a relation between a sensitivity valuedetected by the touch sensor and an operation state determined by anoperation control unit in the remote operation device according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a relation among a sensitivitythreshold, an operation state, and a screen display, stored in theoperation control unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an input process performed by theoperation control unit in the remote operation device according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a displaying condition of the displayscreen accompanying the finger operation to a groove in the remoteoperation device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing for illustrating an arrangement of anavigation device and a remote operation device according to a secondembodiment in a passenger compartment.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of thenavigation device and the remote operation device according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an input process performed by theoperation control unit in the remote operation device according to thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a displaying condition of the displayscreen accompanying the finger operation to a groove in the remoteoperation device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory drawing illustrating an arrangement of anavigation device and a remote operation device according to a thirdembodiment in a passenger compartment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of thenavigation device and the remote operation device according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating an input process performed by theoperation control unit in the remote operation device according to thethird embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating a displaying condition of the displayscreen accompanying the finger operation to a groove in the remoteoperation device according to the third embodiment.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described basedon drawings. In the following embodiments, like references are used torefer to corresponding elements and redundant description may beomitted. When a part of a configuration is explained in an embodiment,the configuration of other embodiments previously explained can beapplied to other parts of the configuration concerned. Combinations ofconfigurations are not limited to those explicitly described inrespective embodiments. Other combinations, even if not explicitlyillustrated, can be obtained by partially combining multiple embodimentsas long as the combination does not cause impediments in particular.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment (FIG. 1 to FIG. 9) applies the input device of thepresent disclosure to a remote operation device 100 used to operate anavigation device 50. The remote operation device 100 is mounted in avehicle, and constitutes a display system 10 in cooperation with thenavigation device 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the remote operation device 100 is installedin a position adjoining a palm rest 39 in a center console of thevehicle, and exposes its operation surface 32 within the easy reach ofan operator (it is a user and assumed as a driver here). The remoteoperation device 100 includes a touch sensor 31 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3), andthe surface of the touch sensor 31 provides the above-describedoperation surface 32 to which an operator's finger operation isperformed. F in FIG. 1 refers to the operator's finger.

The navigation device 50 is installed in the center of the right andleft direction (the width direction of the vehicle) of an instrumentpanel of the vehicle so that a display screen 53 of a liquid crystaldisplay 52 is exposed and oriented to the driver's seat and the frontpassenger's seat so that it can be viewed from an operator. The displaysystem 10 (the liquid crystal display 52) switches and displays variousdisplay images 60 on the display screen 53. The remote operation device100 is provided separately from the navigation device 50, and isinstalled spaced away from the navigation device 50.

Hereinafter, configurations of the remote operation device 100 and thenavigation device 50 are explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2 toFIG. 5.

The remote operation device 100 is coupled to a controller area networkbus (hereinafter called a CAN bus) 90 and an external battery 91 etc.The CAN bus 90 is a transmission line employed for transmission of dataamong multiple in-vehicle devices in an in-vehicle communication networkin which the in-vehicle devices mounted in the vehicle are connected toeach other. The remote operation device 100 can communicate with theseparately located navigation device 50 via the CAN bus 90.

The remote operation device 100 has s a rectangular parallelepiped boxshape as a whole. The remote operation device 100 includes power sourceinterfaces 21 and 22, a communication control unit 23, a communicationinterface 24, a touch sensor 31, an operation surface 32, a groove 33, afirst sensor 34 a, a second sensor 34 b, and an operation control unit35. The power source interfaces 21 and 22 stabilize a power suppliedfrom the battery 91, and supply it to the operation control unit 35. Thepower is always supplied from the battery 91 to the power sourceinterface 21, which is one of the power source interfaces. When anaccessories (ACC) power of the vehicle is turned on and a switch 92 isaccordingly set in a conductive state, the power is supplied from thebattery 91 to the power source interface 22, which is the other of thepower source interfaces.

The communication control unit 23 and the communication interface 24output the information processed by the operation control unit 35 to theCAN bus 90. The communication control unit 23 and the communicationinterface 24 acquire the information outputted by other in-vehicledevices to the CAN bus 90. The communication control unit 23 and thecommunication interface 24 are coupled to each other with a transmissionsignal line TX and a reception signal line RX.

The touch sensor 31 is a capacitive-type detector (an example ofdetection means). The touch sensor 31 has a rectangular plate anddetects an operation state with a finger to a sensor surface. The touchsensor 31 is arranged to correspond to the operation surface 32. In thetouch sensor 31, electrodes are arranged in an x-axis direction and ay-axis direction to form a lattice. These electrodes are coupled to theoperation control unit 35. Capacitance generated in each electrodechanges depending on the position ((x, y, z)-coordinates of FIG. 3) of afinger approaching the sensor surface. A signal of the generatedcapacitance (sensitivity value) is outputted to the operation controlunit 35. The sensor surface is covered with an insulation sheet made ofan insulation material.

The operation surface 32 is a plane part over which an operator performsa finger operation. For example, the whole insulation sheet of thesensor surface is applied with a material which helps a smooth slidingof a finger. The operation surface 32 is rectangular and arrange in avehicle-backward side region of the front surface of the rectangularparallelepiped shaped remote operation device 100. The input for theoperation to a display image 60 (refer to FIG. 9) displayed on thedisplay screen 53 can be made by the finger operation of the operator inthe x-axis direction, the y-axis direction, or the z-axial directionover the operation surface 32.

The groove 33 is a depressed area extending in the longitudinaldirection in which the user's fingertip can be inserted to make asliding movement of the finger. The groove 33 is arranged in thevehicle-front side region of the front surface of the rectangularparallelepiped-shaped remote operation device 100. The groove 33 isarranged closer to the vehicle front than the operation surface 32 is.The groove 33 (the bottom of the groove 33) is arranged on the sameplane as the operation surface 32. The longitudinal direction of thegroove 33 is arranged to match the vehicle anteroposterior direction andpoints toward the operation surface 32. The groove 33 is arrangedapproximately in the center of the remote operation device 100 in theright and left direction of the vehicle.

The groove 33 is a circular arc (a semicircle) in cross section and hasa width comparable to a fingertip for example. Therefore, as illustratedin FIG. 4, the groove 33 is formed such that multiple fingers or a palmcannot be inserted in it.

The first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b serve as detectorswhich detect the presence of a driver's finger in the groove 33. Thefirst sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b are provided in theposition corresponding to the groove 33 (a further lower part of thebottom of the groove 33). The first sensor 34 a is provided in theposition corresponding to one end side of the groove 33 far from theoperation surface 32. The second sensor 34 b is provided in the positioncorresponding to the other end side of the groove 33 near to theoperation surface 32. The first sensor 34 a corresponds to an example ofa first side detector the present disclosure, and the second sensor 34 bcorresponds to an example of a near side detector of the presentdisclosure.

The first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b are provided byelectrodes like the touch sensor 31. As illustrated in FIG. 5, in thepresent embodiment. The first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b areformed on the one end side of the touch sensor 31 integrally with thetouch sensor 31. The electrodes of the first sensor 34 a and the secondsensor 34 b are coupled to the operation control unit 35 via the touchsensor 31. The electrodes of the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor34 b output, to the operation control unit 35, a capacitance signal(sensitivity value) which is generated by virtue of the change ofcapacitance when a finger approaches or touches the groove 33.

The operation control unit 35 corresponds to an example of thecontroller of the present disclosure. The operation control unit 35includes a processor which performs various kinds of processing, a RAMwhich functions as workspace of the processing, and a flash memory whichstores the program to be utilized for the processing. In addition, theoperation control unit 35 is coupled to the power source interfaces 21and 22, the communication control unit 23, the touch sensor 31, thefirst sensor 34 a, and the second sensor 34 b.

By running a specified program, the operation control unit 35 measuresthe capacitance signal of each electrode of the touch sensor 31 toacquire the sensitivity value (Hth), which is a measurement value of thetouch sensor 31. When an operator's finger approaches the operationsurface 32 (the sensor surface), a charge is stored between theelectrode and the finger. The operation control unit 35 calculates the xcoordinate, the y coordinate, and the z coordinate by the calculationprocessing based on the sensitivity value. The x coordinate and the ycoordinate indicate the relative operation position of the finger in thedirection in which the operation surface 32 spreads (hereinafter calledrelative position), and the z coordinate corresponds to the distancefrom the operation surface 32 to the finger (hereinafter called theoperation distance).

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 for example, when a finger is placed incontact with the operation surface 32 at a position corresponding to theposition of a certain electrode among the electrodes aligned in thex-axis direction, a large sensitivity value is acquired from the certainelectrode. The sensitivity value acquired from an electrode distant fromthe finger contact position is smaller because the contact state of thefinger is lost for the distant electrode. The similar characteristicsare also obtained in the electrodes aligned in the y-axis direction.Therefore, the operation control unit 35 calculates the present relativeposition of the finger from the point (x-coordinate position,y-coordinate position) corresponding to the electrode at which thebiggest sensitivity value among the electrodes in the x-axis directionand the y-axis direction is acquired.

In the z-axis direction, the sensitivity value becomes larger as thefinger approaches closer the operation surface 32, and the sensitivityvalue becomes smaller as the finger recedes further from the operationsurface 32. Therefore, the operation control unit 35 calculates thez-coordinate position of the present finger, that is, the operationdistance, based on the magnitude of the sensitivity value acquired.

The operation control unit 35 associates the operation state of a finger(the operation distance of the finger in the z-axis direction) with theacquired sensitivity value, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The operationcontrol unit 35 associates the below-described operation process to thedisplay image 60 with the sensitivity value acquired. Sensitivitythresholds Hth1 and Hth2 for determining the operation state are presetin the operation control unit 35. The operation control unit 35determines the operation state of a finger according to the sensitivitythreshold. The operation state is classified into a contact state inwhich the finger is in contact with the operation surface 32 or thefinger is out of contact actually but in almost near contact, aproximity state in which the finger is close to the operation surface32, and a noncontact state in which the finger recedes further from theoperation surface 32 than in the proximity state. The contact state maybe the operation state in which a finger is substantially in contactwith the operation surface 32.

For example, the sensitivity thresholds provided in the operationcontrol unit 35 are Hht1=200 counts and Hht2=100. Then, when thesensitivity value is greater than Hth1 (200), the operation control unit33 determines that the finger is in the contact state to the operationsurface 32. When the sensitivity value is between Hth1 and Hth2 (101 to200), the operation control unit 33 determines that the finger is in theproximity state to the operation surface 32. When the sensitivity valueis equal to or smaller than Hth2 (100), the operation control unit 33determines that the finger is in the noncontact state to the operationsurface 32. Hereinafter, the contact state is simply called as contact,the proximity state as proximity, and the noncontact state asnoncontact.

When a finger moves up and down delicately around each of thesensitivity thresholds Hth1 and Hth2, a reversal repetition (hunching)takes place in the determination result of the operation state by theoperation control unit 35. Therefore, in the upper side of each of thesensitivity thresholds Hth1 and Hth2 (the near side of the operationsurface 32), upper thresholds Hth1U and Hth2U corresponding to thepositions distant by a predetermined distance are set up, respectively.In the lower side of each of the sensitivity thresholds Hth1 and Hth2(the far side of the operation surface 32), lower thresholds Hth1D andHth2D corresponding to the positions distant by a predetermined distanceare set up, respectively. When a finger is moved from the lower side ofeach of the sensitivity thresholds Hth1 and Hth2 (the far side) towardsthe upper side (near side), the upper thresholds Hth1U and Hth2U serveas a sensitivity threshold in determining the operation state. On thecontrary, when a finger is moved from the upper side of each of thesensitivity thresholds Hth1 and Hth2 (near side) towards the lower side(far side), the lower thresholds Hth1D and Hth2D serve as a sensitivitythreshold in determining the operation state.

Furthermore, the operation control unit 35 detects a pressing operation(touch operation) when an operator presses down the operation surface 32lightly with a finger. Then, the operation control unit 35 outputs theoccurrence and non-occurrence of the pressing operation and the (x, y,z)-coordinates indicative of the position of the finger accompanying theslide operation of the finger to the CAN bus 90 via the communicationcontrol unit 23 and the communication interface 24.

In addition, by running a specified program, the operation control unit35 measures the capacitance signals of electrodes of the first sensor 34a and the second sensor 34 b to acquire the sensitivity values, whichare the measurement values of the first sensor 34 a and the secondsensor 34 b. When an operator's finger approaches or contacts the groove33, a charge is stored between the electrode and the finger. When theacquired sensitivity value is greater than the predetermined valuedefined in advance, the operation control unit 35 determines that afinger is present in the groove 33. On the contrary, when the acquiredsensitivity value is less than the predetermined value, the operationcontrol unit 35 determines that no finger is present in the groove 33.

When both the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b detect thedriver's finger and when the detection is made in the order of the firstsensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b, the operation control unit 35determines that there is a sliding movement of the finger in the groove33. That is, when the operation control unit 35 determines the presenceof a finger from the signal of the first sensor 34 a and the presence ofa finger from the signal of the second sensor 34 b in succession, theoperation control unit 35 determines that the driver has slid the fingerfrom the one end side (the side far from the operation surface 32)towards the other end side (the near side to the operation surface 32)of the groove 33.

The navigation device 50 includes an air-conditioning operation setupfunction to a vehicle air conditioner, an audio operation setting upfunction to a vehicle audio, and a search and browse function forvariety of information by the Internet in addition to the navigationfunction which performs display of the current position on a map andguidance to a destination. The navigation device 50 is coupled to theCAN bus 90 so as to communicate with the remote operation device 100.The navigation device 50 includes a display control unit 51 and a liquidcrystal display 52.

The above-described various functions of the navigation device 50 areindicated in below-described menu item 61 in a display image 60 of theliquid crystal display 52, as Climate (air conditioner operation), Map(map display), Destination (destination setting), Media (audiooperation), and Network (Internet operation) (refer to FIG. 9).

The display control unit 51 includes a processor which performs variouskinds of processing, a RAM which functions as workspace of theprocessing, a graphic processor which performs image drawing, and agraphic RAM which functions as workspace of the drawing. The displaycontrol unit 51 further includes a flash memory which stores the datafor the processing and the drawing, a communication interface coupled tothe CAN bus 90, and a video output interface which outputs the drawnimage data to the liquid crystal display 52. The display control unit 51draws the display image 60 displayed on the display screen 53 based onthe information acquired from the CAN bus 90. Then, the display controlunit 51 sequentially outputs the image data of the drawn display image60 to the liquid crystal display 52 via the video output interface.

The liquid crystal display 52 is a display unit of the dot matrix systemwhich realizes color display by controlling multiple pixels arranged ona display screen 53. The liquid crystal display 52 displays an image bywriting continuously the image data acquired from the display controlunit 51 successively, on the display screen 53.

The display image 60 displayed on the display screen 53 corresponds toan example of image of the present disclosure. The display image 69 isprovided by images hierarchized in multiple hierarchy levels. Forexample, images of the first hierarchy level (specified hierarchy level)among the images of multiple hierarchy level are main images for thevarious functions (the navigation, the air-conditioner, the audio, theInternet, etc.) of the navigation device 50. For example, FIG. 9illustrates the main image for the air-conditioner as one main image.

In the upper part of the display image 60, a menu 61 is displayed whichincludes horizontally-aligned menu items indicating classifications(names) of multiple main images. The menu 61 is always displayed in thesame form even when the display image 60 is switched to an image of anyhierarchy level. When an operator selects a desired item of the menu 61by a finger operation over the operation surface 32, the correspondingmain image is displayed on the display screen 53. Alternatively, when anarbitrary main image is displayed, the operator can scroll the mainimages sequentially to display a desired main image by performing aslide operation of a finger over the operation surface 32 instead ofoperating the menu 61.

Several icons 62 for operating the image are provided in the displayimage 60. The example of FIG. 9 illustrates a wind amount setting icon,a temperature setting icon, a dual setting icon, and a blow off modesetting icon, in the air conditioner operation. A pointer 63 can bedisplayed on the display image 60. The pointer 63 on the display image60 indicates the corresponding position of a finger over the operationsurface 32. For example, the pointer 63 is designed like a hand, and theindex finger (fingertip) thereof indicates the position at the time ofthe finger operation. It is also preferable that the pointer 63 adoptsan arrow as the basic design. The pointer 63 is displayed over thedisplay image 60 when the contact state of a finger is contact orproximity.

When an operator selects a desired icon 62 with the pointer 63 byperforming the slide operation of a finger over the operation surface32, a frame-shaped focus 64 is displayed indicating that the icon 62 hasbeen selected. Furthermore, when the finger is lightly pressed down(when a touch operation is performed) over the operation surface 32corresponding to the position of the selected icon 62, the icon 62 isset into a confirmed state, and the display is shifted to an image ofthe second hierarchy, that is, an image for the operation correspondingto the confirmed icon. In this way, it possible to use various functionssequentially.

In addition, when the input by the finger operation to the operationsurface 32 is prohibited by the operation control unit 35 as will bedescribed later, the display image 60 displays lock information 65 (FIG.9) which indicates that the input is prohibited.

The following describes in details the operation control unit 35performing the input process from the touch sensor 31, the first sensor34 a, and the second sensor 34 b with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, at S100 at first, the operation control unit35 determines whether the driver performs a sliding movement (tracing)of a finger from the one end side of the groove 33 (a point A of FIG. 9)towards the other end side (a point B of FIG. 9), based on the detectionsignals of the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b of thegroove 33. When the sensitivity value beyond a predetermined value isacquired in order of the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b,the operation control unit 35 determines that a sliding movement of afinger is performed in the groove 33, otherwise, the operation controlunit 35 determines that no sliding movement of a finger is performed inthe groove 33.

When it is determined that no sliding movement of a finger is performedat S100, the flow advances to S110. At S110, under the assumption thatthe input prohibition (lock) state by the finger operation at S240 (tobe described below) is continuing, the operation control unit 35displays information notifying the locked state on the display image 60,so that this is recognized by the driver. Specifically, as shown in theleft-hand side frame of FIG. 9, lock information (LOCKED) 65 isdisplayed on the display image 60.

Then, at S120, the operation control unit 35 highlights the lockinformation 65 to the driver by flashing (blinking) the lock information65 on the display screen 60. Then, after the flashing, at S130, thedisplay image 60 is restored to an ordinary image (the lock information65 is erased), and the flow returns to S100.

When affirmative determination is made at S100, that is, it isdetermined that a sliding movement of a finger is performed, theoperation control unit 35 cancels the prohibition (lock) of the input bythe finger operation at S140. Accordingly, the input operation by afinger on the operation surface 32 becomes possible.

The affirmative determination made at S100 indicates a situation inwhich the driver has slid the finger from the point A to the point B inthe groove 33; accordingly, the driver's finger has reached the area ofthe operation surface 32 as a natural consequence.

At S150, the operation control unit 35 performs acquisition processingto acquire the sensitivity value detected by the electrodes of the touchsensor 31, and the flow advances to S160. At S160, the operation controlunit 35 performs computation of the x coordinate and the y coordinatewhich indicate the relative position of the finger to the operationsurface 32, and the z coordinate which indicates the operation distance,from the sensitivity value acquired at S150. Then, from the calculatedvalue of the z coordinate which indicates the operation distance, it iscalculated whether the operation state of the finger is contact,proximity, or noncontact.

Specifically, when the sensitivity value detected by the touch sensor 31is greater than Hth1 (Hth1U), the state is calculated as contact. Whenthe sensitivity value is between Hth2 (Hth2U) and Hth1 (Hth1D), thestate is calculated as proximity. When the sensitivity value is smallerthan Hth2 (Hth2D), the state is calculated as noncontact.

Then, at S170, it is determined whether or not both the calculatedoperation state of the finger is other than contact and the sensitivityvalue is equal to or greater than Hth1 (actually, equal to or greaterthan the upper threshold Hth1U). When affirmative determination is madehere, it is recognized that the operator's finger approaches theoperation surface 32 from the state of noncontact or proximity andbecomes the contact state to the operation surface 32; accordingly, atS180, the operation state of the finger is updated to contact.

In the state of contact, the operation control unit 35 updates thedisplay screen 53 to a contact screen. The contact screen is a screenwhere the original menu 61, the icon 62, the pointer 63, and the focus64 are displayed on the display image 60, as shown in FIG. 9 (right-handside frame). The focus 64 indicates the current operating state(operation setup state) of the device corresponding to the main imagedisplayed.

In the contact screen, an operator can perform original screenoperation, that is, the selection and confirmation of the menu 61 andvarious icons 62, by the finger operation (such as sliding and a touchoperation).

When negative determination is made at S170, the operation control unit35 determines at S190 whether or not either first or second condition issatisfied. That first condition is that the operation state isnoncontact and the sensitivity value is equal to or greater than Hth2(actually equal to or greater than the upper threshold Hth2U). Thesecond condition is the operation state is contact and the sensitivityvalue is equal to or smaller than Hth1 (actually equal to or smallerthan the lower threshold Hth1D). When affirmative determination is madehere, it is recognized that the operator's finger approaches theoperation surface 32 from the state of noncontact, or the operator'sfinger recedes somewhat from the state of contact to the operationsurface 32; accordingly, at S200, the operation state of the finger isupdated to proximity.

In the state of proximity, the operation control unit 35 updates thedisplay screen 53 to a proximity screen. The proximity screen is ascreen in which the pointer 63 and the focus 64 in the above-describedcontact screen are not displayed. In the proximity screen, an operatorcan change the main image through the menu 61 by the finger operation inthe state of proximity (a gesture such as a flick).

When negative determination is made at S190, the operation control unit35 determines at S210 whether or not both the operation state is otherthan noncontact and the sensitivity value is equal to or smaller thanHth2 (actually equal to or smaller than the lower threshold Hth2D). Whenaffirmative determination is made here, it is recognized that theoperator's finger recedes greatly from the operation surface 32 from thestate of contact or proximity; accordingly, at S220, the operation stateof the finger is updated to noncontact.

In the state of noncontact, the operation control unit 35 updates thedisplay screen 53 to a noncontact screen. The noncontact screen is ascreen where the pointer 63 in the above-described contact screen is notdisplayed. In the noncontact screen, the focus 64 indicates the currentoperating state (operation setup state) of the device corresponding tothe main image displayed.

In the noncontact screen, the operator's finger is separated clearlyfrom the operation surface 32, and the operator does not have theintention to operate the display image 60, and the operator can see thedisplay image 60 simply as a confirmation screen for confirming thecurrent operating state of the device.

Then, when the negative determination is made at S230 following S180,S200, S220, and S210, the operation control unit 35 determines whetherthe state of no finger operation to the operation surface 32 by theoperator has continued for a predetermined period of time or longer,based on the sensitivity value of the touch sensor 31. When affirmativedetermination is made at S230, the operation control unit 35 prohibits(locks) the input by the finger operation to the operation surface 32,at S240. At S230, when negative determination is made, the present S230is repeatedly executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the operation controlunit 35 prohibits the input by the finger operation to the operationsurface 32, when the driver's finger operation to the operation surface32 has not been performed for a predetermined period of time or longer(S240). Accordingly, even if a driver brings a finger close to theoperation surface 32 carelessly, the input for operating the displayimage 60 is not performed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an inputunintended by the driver.

Then, when the presence of a driver's finger in the groove 33 isdetected by the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b, theoperation control unit 35 determines that the sliding movement of thefinger is performed in the groove 33, and cancels the prohibition of theinput (S140). Accordingly, by making a sliding movement of a finger inthe groove 33, the driver is again allowed to input the finger operationto the operation surface 32. In this case, the finger operation intendedby the driver will be performed.

When the operation control unit 35 determines that no sliding movementof the finger is performed in the groove 33 (the negative determinationat S100), even if the finger operation to the operation surface 32 by adriver is performed while the input is prohibited (S240), the operationcontrol unit 35 displays the lock information 65 which indicates thatthe input is prohibited, on the display image 60 (the liquid crystaldisplay 52) (S110). Accordingly, the driver can clearly understand thatthe input operation is impossible, and the driver is not puzzled inperforming the finger operation.

The detectors (the first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b) detectthe sliding movement of the finger in the groove 33. When both of thefirst sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b detect the presence of thedriver's finger, the operation control unit 35 determines that a slidingmovement of a finger is performed. According to this configuration, itis possible to enhance the detection accuracy of the sliding movement ofa finger and to reduce erroneous determination.

The groove 33 is arranged on the same plane as the operation surface 32so that the longitudinal direction of the groove 33 points to theoperation surface 32. When, of the first sensor 34 a and the secondsensor 34 b, the first sensor 34 a (the point A) distant from theoperation surface 32 detects the presence of the finger and then thesecond sensor 34 b (the point B) closer to the operation surface 32detects the presence of the finger, the operation control unit 35determines that a sliding movement of the finger is performed. Accordingto this configuration, the driver performs the finger operation to theoperation surface 32 after sliding the finger from the point A to thepoint B of the groove 33; accordingly, it is possible for the driver toperform continuous operation from the groove 33 to the operation surface32.

The first sensor 34 a and the second sensor 34 b in the groove 33 areformed integrally with the touch sensor 31 in the operation surface 32.According to this configuration, it is possible to easily andinexpensively provide the touch sensor 31, the first sensor 34 a, andthe second sensor 34 b, without employing dedicated sensors for them.

Furthermore, because the groove 33 is employed as an operation unit forcanceling the prohibition of an input and multiple fingers or a palmcannot be inserted into the groove 33, a wrong operation is prevented.Furthermore, by performing the slide operation of a finger along thegroove 33, it is possible to perform the blind operation during driving,without looking straight at the operation surface 32 and the displayscreen 53 of the liquid crystal display 52.

Second Embodiment

A remote operation device 100A according to a second embodiment isillustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13. The second embodiment is differentfrom the first embodiment in that the second embodiment further includesan input process associated with the display image 60 and directed toboth a driver in a driver's seat and a front passenger in a frontpassenger's seat as an operator.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, and FIG. 13, the remote operationdevice 100A is provided with multiple grooves (two grooves in thepresent case) formed side by side in the right-to-left direction. Thetwo grooves are a driver's seat-specific groove 33 a and a frontpassenger's seat-specific groove 33 b.

The driver's seat-specific groove 33 a is located on the driver side(right-hand side) portion of the remote operation device 100A, and isassociated as a groove specific for the driver. The driver'sseat-specific groove 33 a is provided with a first sensor 34 a 1 and asecond sensor 34 b 1, as is the case with the first embodiment. A signaldetected by the first sensor 34 a 1 and the second sensor 34 b 1 isoutputted to the operation control unit 35 as a signal which indicatesthe presence of a finger of the driver in the driver's seat-specificgroove 33 a.

The front passenger's seat-specific groove 33 b is located on the frontpassenger side (left-hand side) portion of the remote operation device100A, and is associated as a groove specific for the front passenger.The front passenger's seat-specific groove 33 b is provided with a firstsensor 34 a 2 and a second sensor 34 b 2, as is the case with the firstembodiment. A signal detected by the first sensor 34 a 2 and the secondsensor 34 b 2 is outputted to the operation control unit 35 as a signalwhich indicates the presence of a finger of the front passenger in thefront passenger's seat-specific groove 33 b.

Therefore, the operation control unit 35 can determine whether anoperator to each of the grooves 33 a and 33 b is the driver or the frontpassenger, on the basis of whether the signals are from the first sensor34 a 1 and the second sensor 34 b 1 or from the first sensor 34 a 2 andthe second sensor 34 b 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, the flow chart of the input process performedby the operation control unit 35 is different from the flow chart (FIG.8) explained in the first embodiment in that S141, S142, and S143 fordetermining whether the operator is the driver or the front passengerand for setting up the screen display according to the determinationresult are added between S140 and S150.

As is the case with the first embodiment described above, first at S100,the operation control unit 35 determines whether a sliding movement of afinger of the driver or the front passenger is performed to the grooves33 a and 33 b. When negative determination is made, S110 to S130 areperformed. When affirmative determination is made, S140 is performed.

At S141, the operation control unit 35 determines whether the operatoris the driver or the front passenger, on the basis of whether the outputsignals are from the first sensor 34 a 1 and the second sensor 34 b 1 orfrom the first sensor 34 b 1 and the second sensor 34 b 2 at S100.Specifically, when the output signals are from the first sensor 34 a 1and the second sensor 34 b 1 and the operation control unit 35determines that a sliding movement of a finger is performed in thedriver's seat-specific groove 33 a, the operation control unit 35determines that the operator is the driver. When the output signals arefrom the first sensor 34 a 2 and the second sensor 34 b 2 and theoperation control unit 35 determines that a sliding movement of a fingeris performed in the front passenger's seat-specific groove 33 b, theoperation control unit 35 determines that the operator is the frontpassenger. In FIG. 12, D seat refers to the driver seat, and P seatrefers to the front passenger seat.

When it is determined that the operator is the driver at S141, theoperation control unit 35 performs the screen display setup for thedriver at S142. That is, the original display image 60 is switched to adriver-dedicated image 60 a. The driver-dedicated image 60 a displaysvarious icons 62, a pointer 63, and a focus 64, as illustrated in theright-hand side frame of FIG. 13. The driver-dedicated image 60 adisplays additionally a driver-dedicated display 60 a 1 instead of themenu 61, indicating that the present screen is dedicated to the driver.

In addition, the appearance shape of the driver-dedicated image 60 a ischanged so as to be oriented toward the driver side. That is, in thedriver-dedicated image 60 a, the display image 60 a having thehorizontally long rectangle shape in original is changed into aparallelogram shape. In the parallelogram shape, the base is shifted tothe driver side (right-hand side), and the right and left edges aretilted to the driver side, from the top toward the bottom. That is, thedriver-dedicated image 60 a enables the driver to recognize intuitivelythat the original display image 60 is oriented toward the driver.

When it is determined that the operator is the front passenger at S141,the operation control unit 35 performs the screen display setup for thefront passenger at S143. That is, the original display image 60 isswitched to a front passenger-dedicated image 60 b. The frontpassenger-dedicated image 60 b displays various icons 62, a pointer 63,and a focus 64, as illustrated in the left-hand side frame of FIG. 13.The front passenger-dedicated image 60 b displays additionally a frontpassenger-dedicated display 60 b 1 instead of the menu 61, indicatingthat the present screen is dedicated to the front passenger.

In addition, the shape of the front passenger-dedicated image 60 b ischanged so as to be oriented toward the front passenger. That is, in thefront passenger-dedicated image 60 b, the display image 60 a having ahorizontally long rectangle shape in original is changed into aparallelogram shape. In the parallelogram shape, the base is shifted tothe front passenger side (left-hand side), and the right and left edgesare tilted to the front passenger side from the top toward the bottom.That is, the front passenger-dedicated image 60 b enables the frontpassenger to recognize intuitively that the original display image 60 isoriented toward the front passenger.

Then, after S142 and S143, the operation control unit 35 performs S150to S240 as is the case with the first embodiment, performs input controlaccording to the operation state of the operator's finger, and when thestate of no finger operation has continued for a predetermined period oftime or longer, the operation control unit 35 prohibits the input to theoperation surface 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the intended operator isthe driver and the front passenger; accordingly, multiple grooves areprovided, that is, the driver's seat-specific groove 33 a for the driverand the front passenger's seat-specific groove 33 b for the frontpassenger are provided. The operation control unit 35 cancels theprohibition of the input to the operation surface 32 according to thefinger operation to the grooves 33 a and 33 b. In addition, when it isdetermined that there has been a sliding movement of a finger in one ofthe grooves 33 a and 33 b, the operation control unit 35 switches thedisplay image 60 to either the driver-dedicated image 60 a or the frontpassenger-dedicated image 60 b corresponding to the one of the groove 33a and the groove 33 b and the operation control unit 35 displays theswitched display image on the liquid crystal display 52.

According to this configuration, the operator (the driver or the frontpassenger) understands intuitively that the present display image 60(the driver-dedicated image 60 a or the front passenger-dedicated image60 b) is based on the input by the operator itself. Accordingly, it isdefinitely clear which of the driver and the front passenger isoperating, and it is possible to improve the operability.

Third Embodiment

A remote operation device 100B according to a third embodiment isillustrated in FIG. 14 to FIG. 17. The third embodiment in differentfrom the first embodiment in that the third embodiment is furtherprovided with multiple grooves (a navigation-specific groove 331, anaudio-specific groove 332, an air conditioner-specific groove 333) andthat the third embodiment is further provided with a select function ofthe image (for example, multiple main images of the first hierarchylevel among multiple hierarchy levels) to be displayed according to thefinger operation to each groove.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, FIG. 15, and FIG. 17, the remote operationdevice 100B is provided with multiple grooves (three grooves in thepresent case), that is, the navigation-specific groove 331, theaudio-specific groove 332, and the air conditioner-specific groove 333,which are formed side by side in the right-to-left direction.

The navigation-specific groove 331 is located on the left-hand sideportion of the remote operation device 100B, for example, and isassociated as a groove for the display of the navigation screen in thefirst hierarchy level. As is the case with the first embodiment, thenavigation-specific groove 331 is provided with the first sensor 34 aAand the second sensor 34 bA. Signals detected by the first sensor 34 aAand the second sensor 34 bA are outputted to the operation control unit35 as a signal which indicates the presence of an operator's finger inthe navigation-specific groove 331.

The audio-specific groove 332 is located on the center portion of theremote operation device 100B in the right-left direction, for example,and is associated as a groove for the display of the audio screen in thefirst hierarchy level. As is the case with the first embodiment, theaudio-specific groove 332 is provided with the first sensor 34 aB andthe second sensor 34 bB. Signal detected by the first sensor 34 aB andthe second sensor 34 bB are outputted to the operation control unit 35as a signal which indicates the presence of an operator's finger in theaudio-specific groove 332.

The air conditioner-specific groove 333 is located on the right-handside portion of the remote operation device 100B, for example, and isassociated as a groove for the display of the air conditioner screen inthe first hierarchy level. As is the case with the first embodiment, theair conditioner-specific groove 333 is provided with the first sensor 34aC and the second sensor 34 bC. Signal detected by the first sensor 34aC and the second sensor 34 bC are outputted to the operation controlunit 35 as a signal which indicates the presence of an operator's fingerin the air conditioner-specific groove 333.

Therefore, the operation control unit 35 can determine which groove theoperator has operated (sliding movement), based on whether the signalsare from the first sensor 34 aA and the second sensor 34 bA or the firstsensor 34 aB and the second sensor 34 bB or the first sensor 34 aC andthe second sensor 34 bC.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, the flow chart of the input process performedby the operation control unit 35 is different from the flow chartexplained in the first embodiment (FIG. 8) in that S145, S146, S147, andS148 for determining which groove the operator has operated and forsetting up the screen display according to the determination result areadded between S140 and S150.

As is the case with the first embodiment described above, first, atS100, the operation control unit 35 determines whether a slidingmovement of an operator's finger is performed to the grooves 331, 332,and 333. When negative determination is made, S110 to S130 areperformed. When affirmative determination is made, S140 is performed.

Then, at S145, the operation control unit 35 determines in which groovethe operator has slid a finger, based on whether the output signals arefrom the first sensor 34 aA and the second sensor 34 bB or the firstsensor 34 aB and the second sensor 34 bB or the first sensor 34 aC andthe second sensor 34 bC.

Specifically, the operation control unit 35 determines that a slidingmovement of a finger is performed in the navigation-specific groove 331,when the output signals are from the first sensor 34 aA and the secondsensor 34 bA. The operation control unit 35 determines that a slidingmovement of a finger is performed in the audio-specific groove 332, whenthe output signals are from the first sensor 34 aB and the second sensor34 bB. The operation control unit 35 determines that a sliding movementof a finger is performed in the air conditioner-specific groove 333,when the output signals are from the first sensor 34 aC and the secondsensor 34 bC.

When it is determined that a sliding movement of a finger is performedin the navigation-specific groove 331 at S145, the operation controlunit 35 performs the screen display setup for switching the originaldisplay image 60 to the navigation image 601 at S146. As illustrated inthe left-hand side frame of FIG. 17, the navigation image 601corresponds to the Map in the menu 61, and shows a map around thecurrent position of the-vehicle along with the position of the vehicleon the map.

When it is determined that a sliding movement of a finger is performedin the audio-specific groove 332 at S145, the operation control unit 35performs the screen display setup for switching the original displayimage 60 to the audio image 602 at S147. As illustrated in the middleframe of FIG. 17, the audio image 602 corresponds to the Media in themenu 61, and displays various icons which enable the selection of thedesired audio device and the reproduction of music and videos.

When it is determined that a sliding movement of the finger is performedin the air conditioner-specific groove 333 at S145, the operationcontrol unit 35 performs the screen display setup for switching theoriginal display image 60 to the air conditioner image 603 at S148. Theair conditioner image 603 (the right-hand side frame of FIG. 17) is theimage for the air conditioner operation explained in the firstembodiment and the second embodiment.

Then, after S146, S147, and S148, the operation control unit 35 performsS150 to S240 as is the case with the first embodiment, performs inputcontrol according to the operation state of the operator's finger. Whenthe state of no finger operation has continued for a predeterminedperiod of time or longer, the operation control unit 35 prohibits theinput to the operation surface 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, multiple grooves (thenavigation-specific groove 331, the audio-specific groove 332, and theair conditioner-specific groove 333) are provided as the grooves tocorrespond to multiple images in the specified hierarchy level. Theoperation control unit 35 cancels the prohibition of the input to theoperation surface 32 in response to the finger operation to each groove331, 332, and 333. In addition, it is determined that a sliding movementof a finger is performed in one of the navigation-specific groove 331,the audio-specific groove 332 and the air conditioner-specific groove333, the operation control unit 35 switches the display image 60 to oneof the navigation image 601, the audio image 602, and the airconditioner image 603 corresponding to the one of the grooves 331, 332,and 333, and the operation control unit 35 displays the switched displayimage on the liquid crystal display 52.

According to this configuration, the operator can select the desireddisplay image 60, and at the same time the operator can cancel theprohibition of the input to the operation surface 32; accordingly, it ispossible to improve the operability. The operator can select the desireddisplay image 60 by sliding one of the grooves 331, 332, and 333 with afinger. Accordingly, it is possible to the image selection by blindoperation.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In each of the embodiments described above, after S110, the display ofthe lock information 65 is blinked at S120. However, if displaying thelock information 65 can attract the attention of the operator, S120 maybe omitted.

The return to the usual image at S130 may be omitted. After theaffirmative determination is made at S100, the return to the usual imagecorresponding to S130 may be performed when the prohibition of the inputis canceled at S140.

Multiple sensors (the first and the second sensor) are provided for eachgroove. Alternatively, one sensor may be provided for one groove. Inthis case, the sliding movement of a finger can be performed in anydirection from any end (the point A side or the point B side) of bothends of the groove. However, as is the case with each of the embodimentsdescribed above, if an operating procedure designated in advanceprovides that the sliding direction is from the point A to the point B,the continuous operation from the groove to the operation surface 32becomes possible.

The operation surface 32 and each groove are provided on the same planeand the longitudinal direction of the groove points to the operationsurface 32. However, this is not limiting. For example, a groove may beprovided in an upper portion and may have a level difference withrespect to the operation surface 32. Alternatively, a groove may beprovided on a side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped remoteoperation devices 100, 100A, and 100B.

The first sensor, the second sensor, and the touch sensor 31 are formedintegrally. Alternatively, they may be separately provided as dedicateduse sensors, respectively.

The second embodiment and the third embodiment may be configured asfollows. When fingers are simultaneously slid in two or more grooves ofthe multiple grooves, a specified inputting function may be performed(for example, a function to cancel the present input operation, toreturn to the immediately preceding screen, to return to the main screenof the first hierarchy, or to move to the set menu).

The touch sensor 31 of the capacitive type is employed as the detector(detection means). However, this is not limiting. Another touch sensorof pressure-sensitive type may be adopted.

A push switch may be provided in the remote operation devices 100, 100A,and 100B. This push switch may be pushed to confirm the contents (iconetc.) selected by the finger operation.

Embodiments and configurations of the present disclosure have beenillustrated in the above. However, embodiments and configurationsaccording to the present disclosure are not limited to respectiveembodiments and the configurations illustrated above. Embodiments andconfigurations which are obtained by combining suitably technicalcomponents disclosed in different embodiments and configurations arealso within the scope of embodiments and configurations of the presentdisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input device mounted in a vehicle, separatedfrom a display unit that switchably displays images hierarchized in aplurality of hierarchy levels, and configured to input a user's fingeroperation to an operation surface to operate the images the input devicecomprising: a groove defined by a depressed area extending in alongitudinal direction of the groove to enable a user's fingertipinserted in the groove to be slid in the longitudinal direction; adetector that detects presence and absence of the finger in the groove;and a controller that prohibits an input of the finger operation to theoperation surface when the finger operation to the operation surface hasnot been performed for a predetermined period of time or longer, andcancels the prohibition of the input when the controller determinespresence of a sliding of the finger in the groove based on detection ofthe presence of the finger in the groove by the detector.
 2. The inputdevice according to claim 1, wherein when determining no sliding of thefinger in the groove, the controller controls the display unit todisplay the prohibition of the input even when the finger operation isinputted to the operation surface by the user during the prohibition ofthe input.
 3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a pluralityof the detectors are provided in the longitudinal direction of thegroove, and the controller determines the presence of the sliding of thefinger when all the detectors detect the presence of the finger.
 4. Theinput device according to claim 3, wherein the groove is arranged on asame plane as the operation surface and the longitudinal direction ofthe groove points to the operation surface, and the controllerdetermines the presence of the sliding of the finger when, of theplurality of detectors, one detector distant from the operation surfacedetects the presence of the finger and thereafter another detectorcloser to the operation surface detects the presence of the finger. 5.The input device according to claim 1, wherein the groove is arranged ona same plane as the operation surface and the longitudinal direction ofthe groove points to the operation surface.
 6. The input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the operation surface provided with atouch sensor to detect the position of the finger relative to theoperation surface, and the detectors and the touch sensor are formedintegrally with each other.
 7. The input device according to claim 1,wherein the user includes a driver and a front passenger of the vehicle,the input device is provided with a plurality of the grooves, theplurality of grooves are associated with the driver and the frontpassenger, respectively, and when the controller determines the presenceof the sliding of the finger in one of the plurality of grooves, thecontroller displays on the display unit a dedicated image for the driveror the front passenger that corresponds to the one of the plurality ofgrooves.
 8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the inputdevice is provided with a plurality of the grooves, the plurality ofgrooves, respectively, correspond to the images hierarchized in theplurality of hierarchy levels, and when the controller determines thepresence of the sliding of the finger in one of the plurality ofgrooves, the controller displays on the display unit the image thatcorresponds to the one of the plurality of grooves.